Well tools



Nov. 2, 1965 P. s. SIZER 3,215,207

WELL TOOLS Filed Sept. 20, 1962 INVENTOR. PH lLLi P S. SIZER BY W UnitedStates Patent 3,215,207 WELL TOOLS Phillip S. Sizer, Dallas, Tex.,assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Sept. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 224,986 18 Claims. (Cl. 166122)This invention relates to well tool-s and more particularly to wellpackers for closing the annular space between two telescoped flowconductors, such as the easing of a well and the string of tubingdisposed therein.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved well packerhaving anchoring means for engaging the internal surfaces of a well flowconductor which are movable outwardly into positions engaging theinternal surfaces of the well flow conductor without any longitudinalmovement being imparted thereto during such outward movement to extendedpositions whereby the anchoring means does not scrape or drag on suchinternal surfaces during outward movement to anchor the packer in theflow conductor.

Another object is to provide a well packer wherein the anchoring meansincludes a mandrel having two sets of outwardly movable slips one ofwhich prevents upward movement of the well packer in the flow conductorand the other set of which prevents downward movement of the well packerin the flow conductor, and a sealing means movable into expandedposition for sealing between the packer and the well flow conductorwherein the two sets of slips are moved to expanded positions and anchorthe mandrel against movement in either longitudinal direction in theflow conductor before the sealing means is moved to expanded position toseal between the mandrel and the well flow conductor.

Still another object is to provide a packer wherein the mandrel isprovided with means for releasably holding or locking an inner flowconductor which extends through the packer mandrel to the mandrel.

Still another object is to provide a well packer having hydraulic meansfor moving both sets of slips to expanded position and then the sealingmeans to expanded sealing positions, the hydraulic means being operatedby fluid pressure introduced into the inner flow conductor connected tothe packer.

A further object is to provide a well packer wherein the anchoring meansand the seal means are urged toward expanded and sealing positions byfluid pressure within the flow conductor whereby the force tending tomove the anchoring means and the seal means to their operative expandedpositions increases as the fluid pressure increases in the flowconductor on either side of the seal means.

A still further object is to provide a well packer having two pairs ofexpander slips mounted on a mandrel for lateral outward movement onlyrelative to the mandrel and having individual expander means movablelongitudinally on the mandrel for moving the sets of slips outwardly -onthe mandrel into anchoring engagement with the well flow conductor inwhich the packer is positi-onable and wherein the expander means aremovable by fluid pressure from within a flow conductor extending throughthe mandrel and releasably secured thereto.

A still further object is to provide a well packer having a pair ofcooperable telescoped means on the mandrel and movable by fluid pressurein opposite longitudinal directions on the mandrel for moving the twosets of anchoring slips into anchoring engagement with the well flowconductor and then moving the seal means mounted on the mandrel intosealing engagement between the mandrel and the well flow conductor inwhich the well packer is disposed.

3,215,207 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 Still another object of the invention isto provide in a device of the character set forth lock means for lockingthe pair of telescopable means to one another and against movement totheir retracted or telescoped positions from their extended positionswherein they hold the anchoring slips and the seal means in expandedanchoring and sealing positions.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, partly sectional view, with some parts brokenaway, showing the well packer 0f the invention in a well casing andreleasably secured to a string of tubing and with its anchoring meansand seal means in retracted positions;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the well packer anchoredin the well casing with its anchoring means in expanded positionsanchoring the well packer against movement in either longitudinaldirection in the well casing and its seal means in expanded positionsealing between the packer mandrel and the well casing;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the well packer 10 embodying theinvention is employed to seal the annular space or annulus 12 between aninner flow conductor, such as the string of tubing 13, and an outer flowcon ductor, such asthe well casing 14, and includes an elongate tubularmandrel 15 having a longitudinal bore or passage 16 in which isreceivable a tubular seal nipple 18 which is connected in a string oftubing and con stitutes a section thereof. The upper end portion 19 ofthe seal nipple is internally threaded to receive the lower threaded endof the section 20 of tubing while its lower reduced end portion 22 maybe externally threaded .for connecting a suitable well tool 24 to itslower end. It will be apparent that if desired any number of sections oftubing such as the section 20 may be interposed and connected betweenthe lower end of the seal nipple and the well tool 24. t

The well tool 24 includes a sub 25 having a seat ring 26 telescoped inits lower end and releasably held therein by means of the shear pins 27.The seat ring has an upper beveled seat surface 28 which is engageablevby a suitable plug or closure means, such a the ball 29, for closing thelower end of the sub and therefore the lower end of the flow passage 30of the tubing string. An O-ring 32 or other suitable seal means isdisposed in an external annular recess of the seat ring for sealingbetween the sub and the seat ring above the shear pins 27.

The mandrel 15 of the well packer is releasably secured to the sealnipple 18 of the tubing string by means of the lug ring 35 threaded inthe upper enlarged portion of the bore of the mandrel and having a pairof inwardly extending lugs 36 and 37 which are receivable in theinverted J slots 38a and 38b of the enlarged portion or external flange40 of the seal nipple. The lugs 36 and 37 are initially disposed in theshort leg portions 41a and 41b of the J slots 38a and 38b, respectively.The lower ends of the short leg portions of the J slots are defined bythe upwardly facing stop shoulders 42a and 4212 which engage the lugs tosupport the packer mandrel on the seal nipple when the packer is beinglowered into the well casing and to prevent upward movement of the sealnipple relative to the packer rnandrel when the packer mandrel isanchored in the well casing. The long leg portions 43a 3 and 43b of theJ slots open downwardly of the external flange 40 of the seal nipple andthe upper ends of the two leg portions of the J slots are connected bythe connector portions 44a and 44b. Downward movement of the seal nipplein the mandrel is limited by the engagement of the downwardly facingannular shoulder 45 thereof with the upwardly facing annular shoulder 46of the mandrel.

When the tubing string and the seal nipple are moved downwardly relativeto the packer mandrel until the shoulders 45 and 46 engage, the lugs 36and 37 are positioned at the upper ends of the J slots and in alignmentwith the connector portions 44a and 44b so that clockwise rotation ofthe seal nipple will cause the long leg portions 43a and 43b of the Jslots to be positioned in alignment with the lugs 36 and 37,respectively.

The seal nipple 18 is then free to move upwardly relative to the mandreluntil the annular upwardly facing shoulder 47 of the external flange 40thereof engages the annular downwardly facing shoulder 48 of theinwardly extending flange 49 at the upper end of the tension sleeve 50telescoped in the upper end of the packer mandrel and whose lower end isthreaded in the packer mandrel to lock the lug ring therein. The tensionsleeve has an internal annular recess 51 intermediate the ends thereofwhich causes the tension sleeve to have a thin section 52 of lowmechanical strength so that the seal nipple, and the string of tubing 13of which it constitutes a section, may be freed for upward removal fromthe packer mandrel when the packer mandrel is held against upwardmovement in the well casing and an upwardly acting force is applied tothe tubing string of suflicient magnitude to cause the thin section oftension sleeve to rupture or fail. The seal nipple with the upper endportion of the tension sleeve still held thereon by the engagement ofthe shoulders 47 and 48 thereof may then be moved upwardly and out ofthe packer mandrel.

If it is desired subsequently to replace the seal nipple in the mandrel,the tubing string may again be lowered to position the seal nipple inthe mandrel. The seal nipple is rotated to position the lower open endsof the long leg portions of the J slots into alignment with the lugs 36and 37 which then enter into the lower open ends of the long legportions as downward movement of the seal nipple is continued. When thelugs are positioned at the upper ends of the long legs, acounterclockwise rotation, as seen from above, is imparted to the tubingstring to position the lugs above the short leg portions 41a and 41b ofthe J slots and subsequent upward movement of the tubing string, andtherefore the seal nipple, then causes the engagement of the lugs 36 and37 with the stop shoulders 42a and 42b defining the lower ends of theshort leg portions of the I slots. The seal nipple, and therefore thetubing string, is now again locked to the packer mandrel and is heldagainst upward movement relative thereto.

The packer mandrel has an external annular recess 54 defined by thedownwardly facing annular shoulder 55, provided by the enlarged upperend portion 56 of the mandrel thereof, and by an upwardly facing annularshoulder 58 of an annular external flange 59 on the mandrel below theenlarged portion. The packer mandrel has a lower portion 60 of reducedexternal diameter below the downwardly facing shoulder 61 of theexternal flange 59. A plurality of anchoring means or slips 63 aremounted on the mandrel below the upper enlarged portion 59 thereof bymeans of the internal flanges or hooks 64 on the upper ends of saidslips which are received in the external annular upper recess 54 of thepacker mandrel so that upward movement of the slips is limited by theengagement of their upper ends with the downwardly facing annularshoulder 55 of the packer mandrel. The external flange 59 of the packermandrel is received in the internal recesses 66 of the slips below theflanges 64 thereof.

Each of the slips has a substantially arcuate intermediate surface 70adapted to engage the external surface of the reduced portion 60 of thepacker mandrel when the slips are in the retracted positions illustratedin FIGURE 1, and each slip also has a downwardly and outwardly extendinginternal arcuate surface 71 extending downwardly from the intermediatesurface 70 which is slidably engageable with the frusto-conical outersurface 73 of the upper slip expander 75 slidab'ly mounted on the packermandrel. The slip expander is held in the lower position illustrated inFIGURE 1 by a set screw 77 threaded in suitable aligned bores in theupper slip expander and the mandrel.

The slips have external recesses 80 through which extend a plurality ofretainer wires 81 which may be soldered together and which releasablyhold the upper slips in their inner or retracted positions illustratedin FIGURE 1 wherein their upper end surfaces engage the annulardownwardly facing shoulder 55 of the packer mandrel. The externalupwardly facing serrations or teeth 83 of the slips, when the slips aremoved to their expanded position by upward movement of the expander '75on the packer mandrel which causes rupture or failure of the retainerwires 81, engage or dig into the internal surfaces of the well casing 14and thus prevent upward movement of the packer mandrel in the wellcasing.

The lower end portion of the packer mandrel has a slip retainer nut 84threaded thereon. The slip retainer nut has an external annular recess85 whose lower end is defined by the upwardly facing annular shoulder 87of the nut and whose upper end is defined by the annular downwardlyfacing shoulder 88 provided by the external annular flange 89 formed onthe upper reduced portion of the retainer nut above the shoulder 87. Thehooks or internal flanges 91 on the lower ends of the lower set of slips92, which may be identical in configuration to the upper slips 63, arereceivable in the external annular recess of the slip retainer nut andtheir downward movement on the retainer nut and on the packer mandrel islimited by the engagement of their lower ends with the upwardly facingshoulder 87 of the slip retainer nut. The flange 89 of the nut isreceived in the internal recess 93 of the slips.

Each of the slips is provided with an arcuate intermediate surface 94which is adapted to engage the outer surface of the lower end of thereduced portion 60 of the packer mandrel when the slips are in theretracted positions on the mandrel illustrated in FIGURE 1. Each of theslips is also provided with an arcuate upwardly and outwardly extendingsurface 96 whose curvature and inclination conforms to that of thebeveled or frusto-conical downwardly and inwardly extending cam orexpander surface 97 of the lower section 98 of the cylinder sleeve 99slidably mounted on the mandrel. The external teeth or serrations 100 ofthe lower set of slips face downwardly so that when the slips are movedoutwardly to their expanded positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 upondownward movement of the cylinder sleeve on the mandrel, the teethengage or dig into the internal wall surface of the well casing andprevent downward movement of the packer mandrel in the well casing.

The lower set of slips 92 are releasably held in a retracted position bya plurality of retainer wires 103 which extend through the externalaligned recesses 104 of the slips and are soldered together. The wiresrupture or fail when the cylinder sleeve is moved downwardly on thepacker mandrel and causes an outwardly directed force to be exerted onthe lower set of slips.

A seal or packing assembly is disposed about the mandrel below the upperslip expander 75 and may include the resilient seal elements 111, 112and 113, the oppositely facing shoes 116 and 117 which engage the upperand lower surfaces of the upper and lower seal elements 111 and 113 andthe backup rings 119 and 120 disposed longitudinally outwardly of theshoes 116 and 117, respectively. A spacer 122 may be positioned betweenthe upper backup ring 119 and the lower annular end surface of the upperslip expander 75 in order to provide the required clearance or space forthe upward and outward movement of the upper shoe 116 and the backupring 119 'as the seal assembly is moved to the expanded positionillustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein the shoes and the backup rings bridgethe annulus 12 between the extrenal surface of the packer mandrel andthe internal wall surfaces of the well casing to prevent extrusion orflow of the packing elements therepast.

The seal assembly and the upper slip expander are movable upwardly onthe packer mandrel by an annular piston 125 telescoped in the annularspace or chamber 126 between the packer mandrel and the upper section127 of enlarged diameter of the cylinder sleeve 99. The lower section ofthe cylinder sleeve is threaded on the reduced upper end portion of thelower section 98 and a gasket 128 or other suitable seal means sealstherebetween. The piston and the cylinder sleeve are releasably held inthe fully telescoped positions relative to one another illustrated inFIGURE 1 by a shear screw 130 which extends through suitable alignedthreaded apertures in the piston and the upper section of the cylindersleeve and into a threaded lateral bore of the packer mandrel. Thepiston has an internal annular recess in which is disposed an O-ring 132or other suitable sealing means which seals between the piston sleeveand the packer mandrel, and also has an external annular recess in whichis disposed an O-ring 133 which seals between the piston and thecylinder sleeve.

A split lock ring 135 for locking the piston and the cylinder againsttelescoping movement is disposed in the external annular recess 136 inthe lower end portion of the piston below the O-rings 132 and 133, andthis lock ring is caused to move upwardly with the piston by theengagement of its lower end surface with the upwardly facing annularshoulder 138 defining the lower end of the external recess 136 of thepiston. The lock ring 135 has an arcuate upwardly and outwardly beveledinner surface 140 which is engaged with a similar arcuate upwardly andoutwardly beveled surface 141 defining the upper portion of the externalrecess 136 of the piston. Down- "ward movement of the piston relative tothe locking ring tends to move the locking ring outwardly intoengagement with the internal wall surfaces of the upper section 127 ofthe cylinder sleeve 99 and thus locks the piston against downwardmovement in the cylinder sleeve and the cylinder sleeve against upwardmovement on the piston.

The lock ring has a plurality of downwardly facing serrations or teeth143 which engage or dig into the internal wall surfaces of the cylindersleeve to hold the lock ring against downward movement in the cylindersleeve. The downwardly facing teeth do not prevent upward movement ofthe lock ring in the cylinder sleeve since the upper surfaces of theteeth slope downwardly and outwardly and since upon outward movement ofthe piston sleeve relative to the cylinder sleeve the beveled camsurface 141 of the piston does not engage and tend to move outwardly thelock ring. The lock ring is split so that it may be widened to permit itto be moved upwardly over the lower external annular flange 136a at thelower end of the piston into the external recess 136 and thereuponretracts to cause its lower end surface to engage the shoulder 138 onthe upper side of the flange 136a of the piston. The inherent dimensionsof the resilient lock ring are such that it engages the internal surfaces of the cylinder sleeve when mounted on the piston whereby itsteeth tend to prevent downward movement of the locking ring in thecylinder sleeve. Any downward movement of the piston relative to thecylinder sleeve will therefore cause the lock ring to be expandedoutwardly into gripping or looking engagement with the internal surfacesof the cylinder sleeve due to the camming ,action between the beveledsurfaces 140 and 141. The

6. lock ring thus prevents upward movement of the cylinder sleeverelative to the piston.

The lower section 98 of the cylinder sleeve has an internal annularrecess in which is disposed an O-ring 145 which seals between thecylinder sleeve and the packer mandrel below the chamber 126 and belowthe port 146 of the packer mandrel which communicates the interior ofthe packer mandrel with the lower end of the annular chamber 126. Whenthe seal nipple of the tubing string is disposed in the packer mandrel,the lateral port 147 thereof communicates with the port 146 of thepacker mandrel so that fluid under pressure may be introduced into thelower end of the piston chamber 126 from the longitudinal bore or flowpassage 150 of the seal nipple, which constitutes a portion of the flowpassage 30 of the string of tubing, which extends to the surface of theWell. The seal nipple has an external annular recess 151 into which theport 147 opens in order to facilitate flow of the fluid from the flowpassage of the string of tubing into the port 146 of the packer mandreland thence into the lower end of the piston chamber 126.

The seal nipple has an external annular recess below the recess 151 inwhich is disposed an O-ring 154 which seals between the seal nipple andthe packer mandrel below the ports 147 and 146. A pair of sealassemblies !156 and 157 disposed in the external longitudinally spacedannular recesses 1 58 and 1'59 of the seal nipple above the recess .15=1seal between the seal nipple and the packer mandrel above the ports.

When it is desired to install the string of tubing 13 in the well casing14, the operative elements of the packer are assembled in the positionsillustrated in FIGURE l with the upper and lower sets of anchoringelements or slips .63 and 92 held in their fully retracted positions bymeans of the retaining wires 81 and 103 and due to their engagement withthe smaller position of the expander surfaces 73 and 97 of the upperslip expander and the cylinder sleeve, respectively.

The upper slip expander 75 is releasably secured to the mandrel by theshear screw 77 with its smaller upper end disposed between the mandreland the lower end portions of the slips 63. The cylinder sleeve and thepiston are secured in their fully telescoped relationship to one anotherand to the packer mandrel by means of the shear screw 130 with the lowersmaller end of the cam surface 97 of the cylinder sleeve disposedbetween the packer mandrel and the upper end portions of the slips 92.The teeth of the lock ring, due to its resilience and inherentdimensions, engage the internal surface of the cylinder sleeve. Theupper section of the cylinder, sleeve is telescoped downwardly over thepiston and over the lock ring after the lock .ring has been disposed inthe external recess 136 of the piston, the downwardly facing teeth 143of the lock ring permitting such downward movement of the upper sleevesection therepast. The lower cylinder sleeve section is then secured tothe lower end of the upper section. If desired, the two sections may berigidly secured to one another by any suitable means, such as welding,instead of the threaded connection shown.

The packer mandrel is now supported on the seal nipple by the engagementof the lugs 36 and 37 with the upwardly facing shoulders 42a and 42b ofthe J slots in the external flange 40 of the seal nipple. Any upwardnon-rotational movement of the packer mandrel on the seal nipple isarrested by the engagement of the upper shoulders of the lugs 36 and 37with the downwardly facing shoulders 160a and 16% defining the upperends of the J slots immediately above the short leg portions 41a and 41bof the I slots.

'When the string of tubing and the well packer have been lowered to thedesired position in the well casing, various well operations may beperformed before the packer is anchored in the well casing and closesthe annulus between the tubing string and the well casing. For example,drilling fluids which may be present in the annulus 1-2 between thestring of tubing and the well casing may be washed out or displaced withwater or oil by pumping the water or oil down the string of tubing andtout through the lower open end of the well tool 24 and then upwardlythrough the annulus between the string of tubing and the well casing tothe surface. Alternate ly, such circulation for displacing the drillingfluids may take place downwardly through the annulus and then upwardlythrough the open lower end of the well tool 24 and thence through thetubing string to the surface. The packer, when its upper and lower setsof slips and its seal assembly are intheir retracted or non-expandedpositions, provides. a relatively large annular passage for the flow offluids between the packer and the well casing.

After such well operations have been completed and it is desired toanchor the packer and seal the annular space between the well casing andthe string of tubing, the ball 29 is dropped into the flow passage 30 ofthe string of tubing at the surface and allowed to fall therethroughuntil it seats on the seat surface 28 of the seat ring 26. Fluid underpressure is then introduced into the string of tubing at the surface, asby pumping, and the pressure thereof is communicated to the chamber 1.26below the piston sleeve through the ports 147 and 146 of the seal nippleand the packer mandrel. When the pressure within the string of tubing atthe port 147 of the seal nipple ri-sesto a predetermined value, theshear pin 130 between the piston and the cylinder sleeve is sheared andthe cylinder sleeve is moved downwardly on the packer mandrel by theforce of such fluid pressure exerted across the up wardly facing area ofthe cylinder sleeve between the lines of sealing engagement of theO-rings 133 and 145. Such downward movement of the cylinder sleeve movesthe beveled expander surface 97 at the lower end of the cylinder sleevedownwardly between the packer mandrel and the cam surfaces 96 of thelower set of slips 92, cansing the retainer wires 103 to fail and movingthe lower slips 92 laterally outwardly into locking engagement with theinternal wall surfaces of the well casing. The downwardly facing teeth100 of the lower set of slips then prevent any downward movement of thewell packer [mandrel in the well casing. It will be noted that nolongitudinal movement of the slips takes place during their outwardmovement to expanded positions since their lower ends are in engagementwith the upwardly facing annular shoulder 87 of the slip retainer nut.

The piston cylinder 1125 has a downwardly facing area, defined by thelines of sealing engagement of the O-rings 1'32 and 133, exposed to thepressure of the fluid which is substantially equal to the upwardlyfacing area of the cylinder sleeve exposed to this pressure, but theupward movement of the piston cylinder, if the cylinder sleeve did notmove downwardly first, would require that the shear screw 130 be shearednot only between the piston sleeve and the cylinder sleeve, but alsobetween the piston sleeve and the packer mandrel. Accordingly, thecylinder sleeve moves downwardly first since its movement requires thatthe shear screw be sheared at one location only, i.e., between thepiston sleeve and the cylinder sleeve.

As the cylinder sleeve moves downwardly on the packer mandrel andexpands the lower slips outwardly, it moves downwardly past the teeth.143 of the lock ring 135, but since these teeth face do Wnwar-dly andsince any frictional engagement between the teeth and the cylindersleeve tends to move the lock ring downwardly and into engagement withthe upwardly facing shoulder 138 of the lower flange 136a and toward thelower portion of the external recess .136 of the piston cylinder, thelook ring has room to move inwardly to permit such downward movement ofthe cylinder sleeve. The internal surface of the cylinder sleevetherefore slides downwardly past the downwardly facing teeth of the lockring.

When downward movement of the cylinder sleeve 8 stops, the fluidpressure communicated to the lower end of the chamber 126 acting on thedownwardly facing annular area of the piston defined by the lines ofsealing engagement of the O-rings 132 and 133 causes the shear screw 130to shear between the piston and the mandrel and the pressure then movesthe piston upwardly. Upward movement of the piston moves the packingassembly upwardly and tends to compress it against the upper slipexpander. The shear screw 77, however, holding the upper slip expanderin the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 1, shears when the upwardforce applied to the lower end of the upper slip expander exceeds apredetermined value which is lower than the value of the force necessaryto compress the seal assembly fully and move it into expanded positionand into engagement with the internal wall surface of the well casing.When the shear screw 77 shears, the piston moves the seal assembly 110and the upper slip expander upwardly on the packer mandrel. The cammingengagement of the beveled surface 73 of the slip expander with thesimilarly beveled or inclined surfaces 71 of the upper slips 63 causesthe retainer wires 81 to rupture or fail and the upper slips are freedto move laterally outwardly as the upward movement of the upper slipexpander on the packer mandrel continues. The force exerted on the upperslips by the upper slip expander is suflicient to cause the upwardlyfacing teeth or serrations 83 of the upper slips to engage and dig intothe internal wall surfaces of the well casing until upward movement ofthe upper slip expander is arrested when no further outward movement ofthe slips can take place. It will be noted that the upper slips aremoved only outwardly and not longitudinally since upward movement of theslips is prevented by the engagement of their upper ends with thedownwardly facing annular shoulder 55 of the mandrel. Further upwardmovement of the piston now compresses the seal assembly 110 between thepiston and the lower end of the upper slip expander and causes it tomove to the expanded position illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the sealassembly closes and seals the annulus between the packer mandrel and thewell casing and prevents flow of fluid therethrough.

As the piston 125 moves upwardly on the mandrel and relative to thesleeve cylinder the lock ring is moved upwardly therewith due to theengagement of its lower end surface with the upwardly facing shoulder138, its downwardly facing teeth merely sliding along the internal wallsurfaces of the sleeve cylinder.

When the seal assembly 110 is in its fully compressed position, upwardmovement of the piston stops and the continued pumping or introductionof fluid under pressure into the string of tubing increases the pressurewithin the flow passage of the string of tubing to the value whichcauses the shear pins 27 to shear, whereupon the ball 29 and the seatring 26 are moved out of the lower end of the sub 25 to drop to thebottom of the Well.

The pressure within the flow passage of the string of tubing may nowdrop, and therefore the pressure in the piston chamber 126 below thepiston may also decrease. Any downward movement of the piston due to thecompressional force of the expanded seal assembly exerted thereon isarrested upon any slight downward movement of the piston since suchslight downward movement of the piston will now cause the engagement ofthe beveled surface 141 of the piston with the beveled surface of thelock ring and the ring is expanded outwardly since the downwardly facingteeth or serrations of the lock ring prevent its downward movement inthe cylinder sleeve. Any such slight downward movement of the pistontherefore merely causes the teeth of the lock ring to engage more firmlythe cylinder sleeve. The packing assembly of course still seals betweenthe mandrel and the well casing. As a result, the lock ring locks thepiston and the sleeve cylinder in their fully extended positionsrelative to one another wherein the piston holds the upper slip expander75 in its upper position holding the upper slips in locking engagementwith the internal wall surfaces of the well casing, and also holds theseal assembly in compressed and expanded position sealing the annulusbetween the packer mandrel and the well casing. No flow may now takeplace between the packer mandrel and the well casing due to the sealingengagement of the seal assembly 110 with the mandrel and the wellcasing, and similarly no flow of fluid may take place between the sealnipple and the packer mandrel due to the sealing engagement of the sealassemblies 156 and 157 with the seal nipple and the packer mandrel.

In addition to the force exerted by the piston holding the seal assembly110 in sealing engagement with the well casing, if the pressure in thewell below the well packer now exceeds that above the well packer anupwardly acting pressure diflerential exists across the seal assembly110 and also holds the packing element in sealing engagement with thewell casing. Should such pressure diiferential increase for any reason,as by an increase in pressure of the well below the well packer or dueto a decrease in pressure above the packer, the increased pressuredifferential will cause a greater upward force to be exerted on theupper slip expander 75 so that the greater the upwardly acting pressuredifferential across the seal assembly, and therefore across the wellpacker, the greater will be the force holding the seal assembly insealing engagement with the well casing and the greater will be theforce tending to move the upper slips outwardly. Should the pressuredifferential for any reason be reversed, the packing assembly 110 willbe exposed to a downwardly acting pressure differential thereacrosswhich will tend to hold it in sealing engagement with the well casingand move it downwardly and since such downwardly acting force is nowexerted through the piston and the cylinder sleeve, which are lockedtogether by the lock ring 135, to the lower slips 92. The greater suchdownwardly acting pressure differential across the sealing assembly, thegreater will be the force with which the lower slips are held in theirlocking engagement with the well casing.

When it is desired to remove the string of tubing from the well, thestring of tubing is first lowered until the shoulder 45 of the sealnipple engages the shoulder 46 of the mandrel to cause the lugs 36 and37 of the lug ring 35 to be positioned in the upper ends of the J slotsabove the short leg portions 41a and 41b. The string of tubing is thenrotated in a clockwise manner, as seen from above, to position the lugsabove the upper ends of the long leg portions 43a and 43b of the J slotsand the tubing string is then moved upwardly, the lugs passing throughthe lower open ends of the long leg portions 43a and 43b of the J slots.As the string of tubing is moved upwardly, the upwardly facing annularshoulder 47 of the flange 40 of the seal nipple 18 engages thedownwardly facing shoulder 49 of the tension sleeve and, when asufliciently great upward force is exerted on the string of tubing, thethin section 52 of the tension sleeve ruptures or fails whereupon thestring of tubing may be moved upwardly to the surface leaving the packerlocked in position in the well casing.

Should it be desired to position the string of tubing again in the wellcasing and secure it to the well packer, the string of tubing is againlowered and so oriented that the lugs 36 and 37 of the packer mandrelmove into the lower open ends of the long leg portions 43a and 43b ofthe I slots, and the string of tubing is rotated after the lugs arepositioned in the connector portions of the J slots in acounterclockwise manner so that the lugs pass through the connectorportions 44a and 44b of the J slots into longitudinal alignment with andabove the upper ends of the short leg portions 41a and 41b of the Islots. The string of tubing is then moved upwardly until the lugs 36 and37 again engage the upwardly facing shoulders 42a and 42b, respectively,of the seal nipple defining the lower ends of the short leg portions ofthe J slots whereupon the well packer holds the string of tubing againstfurther upward movement relative thereto. The seal assemblies 156 and157 and the O-ring 154 of the seal nipple then again seal on oppositesides of the port 147 between the seal nipple and the packer mandrel andnormal production of well fluids through the string of tubing may thentake place.

It will be apparent that either the tension sleeve or the I slots andtheir cooperable lugs 36 and 37 may be used separately to releasablysecure the seal nipple to the well packer. If the tension sleeve aloneis employed, once the tension sleeve is broken to permit the string oftubing to be lifted out of the well packer, there is no means for againreleasably locking the seal nipple and the packer mandrel against upwardmovement relative thereto. For this reason, the J slots and lugs 36 and37 are provided to permit such subsequent locking of the seal nipple tothe well packer. The use of the tension sleeve in conjunction with the Islots is preferred since the tension sleeve will hold the seal nippleagainst upward displacement from the mandrel in the event of release ofthe lugs 36 and 37 from the J slots due to accidental rotative movementof the string of tubing, and the string of tubing can be freed from thewell packer only when an upwardly directed force of a predeterminedvalue is exerted on the string of tubing.

It will be noted that the seal assemblies 156 and 157 must function toseal between the mandrel and the seal nipple above the ports 147 and 146at all times that the seal nipple is in position in the mandrel, whilethe O-ring 154 has no function once the lower end of the string oftubing is open. For this reason the seal assemblies 156 and 157 are ofsuch construction as to provide the required sealing action between theseal nipple and the packer mandrel during the whole time the seal nippleis in position in the well packer.

It will be apparent that while the string of tubing has been providedwith the well tool 24, which includes the sub 25 and the seat ring 26,for closing the flow passage of the string of tubing below the port 147thereof, any other suitable well tool may be connected at the lower endof the string of tubing for this purpose and any suitable removable plugseatable in such well tool may be employed for the purpose of closingthe flow passage of the string of tubing.

Since the upper and lower slips are held permanently in their expandedlocking positions once the packer has been anchored in the well, due tothe locking of the piston 125 and the cylinder sleeve 99 against anytelescoping movement of the two relative to each other, the well packercannot be released for removal from the well casing. The well packer istherefore formed of such drillable metals as bronze alloys in order thatit may be drilled out in the usual well known manner after the string oftubing has been removed from the well.

It will now be seen that a new and improved well packer has beenillustrated and described and includes a tubular mandrel having two setsof anchoring means or slips which are movable outwardly, without anylongitudinal movement thereof relative to the mandrel on which they aremounted, into expanded positions wherein they anchor or lock the mandrelin a well flow conductor, one set of slips holding and anchoring themandrel against movement in one longitudinal direction in the flowconductor and the other set of slips anchoring the mandrel againstlongitudinal movement in the opposite direction.

It will further be seen that the upper and lower slips are movablelaterally outwardly of the mandrel to their anchoring position byindividual expander means, such as the upper slip expander and thecylinder sleeve 99, upon longitudinal movement in opposite directions ofsuch expander means on the mandrel.

It will further be seen that the slips do not move longitudinally of thesurfaces of the well casing which they engage but move only laterallyoutwardly relative thereto, thus preventing dulling of the teeth andalso minimizing the force necessary to move the slips to their expandedanchoring position, since if the slips were moved longitudinallyrelative to the well casing in the setting operation their teeth woulddig into the well casing and a relatively great force would have to beapplied to the slips to move them longitudinally of the well casingduring their movement to anchoring positions.

It will further be seen that the two expander means of the two sets ofslips are movable in opposite directions by fluid pressure introducedfrom the interior of the tubing string of the inner flow conductor whichextends through the mandrel of the well packer and are held in anyextended positions to which they have been move-d by the fluid pressureand against telescoping movement toward each other by a lock means, suchas the lock ring 135, so that the mandrel is permanently anchored inposition once the slips have been moved to their expanded anchoringpositions in engagement with the well casing.

It will further be seen that the means for moving one of the slipexpander-s, such as the upper slip expander 75, includes not only thepiston 125 but also the seal assembly 110 which is interposedtherebetween, and that the seal assembly is expanded into sealingengagement only after the upper slips have been moved to expandedanchoring position.

It will further be seen that the mandrel of the packer and the sealnipple of the string of tubing which is extendable therethrough areprovided with co-engageable means for releasably holding the string oftubing in operative position in the mandrel.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; upper and lower anchoringmeans carried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrelbetween an initial retracted position and an expanded anchoringposition; upper and lower expander means movably carried by said mandreland engageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retractedto expanded positions upon longitudinal movement of said expander meansin opposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding expandable seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means has been arrested, said mandreland said anchoring means having co-engageable means preventinglongitudinal movement of said anchoring means during movement of saidanchoring means to expanded position by said ex pander means; and meansfor moving said expander means relative to said anchoring means formoving said anchoring means to expanded position.

2. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoring meanscarried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrel between aninitial retracted position and an expanded anchoring position;

means releasably holding said anchoring means in retracted position onsaid mandrel; a pair of expander means movably carried by said mandreland engageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retractedto expanded positions upon longitudinal movement; of said expander meansin opposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding been arrested, said mandrel and said anchoring means havingco-engageable means preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoringmeans during movement of said anchoring means to expanded position bysaid expander means; and means for moving said expander means relativeto said anchoring means for moving said anchoring means to expandedposition.

3. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoring meanscarried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrel between aninitial retracted position and an expanded anchoring position; meansreleasably holding said anchoring means in retracted position on saidmandrel; a pair of expander means movably carried by said mandrel andengageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retracted toexpanded positions upon longitudinal movement of said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding expandable seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means has been arrested, said mandreland said anchoring means having co-engageable means preventinglongitudinal movement of said anchoring means during movement of saidanchoring means to expanded position by said expander means, each ofsaid expander means having means exposable to pressure of fluid fromwithin said mandrel for moving said expander means in oppositedirections on said mandrel to move said anchoring means to expandedposition.

4. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoring meanscarried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrel between aninitial retracted posi tion and an expanded anchoring position; a pairof expander means movably carried by said mandrel and engageable withsaid anchoring means for moving them from retracted to expandedpositions upon longitudinal movement of said expander means in oppositedirections on said mandrel, one of said expander means includingexpandable seal means movable to expanded position when outward movementof the anchoring means has been arrested, said mandrel and saidanchoring means having co-engageable means preventing longitudinalmovement of said anchoring means during movement of said anchoring meansto expanded position by said expander means; means for moving saidexpander means relative to said anchoring means for moving saidanchoring means to expanded position; and means initially releasablyholding said expander means against movement on said mandrel towardpositions wherein said expander means move said anchoring means toexpanded positions.

5. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoring meanscarried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrel between aninitial retracted position and an expanded anchoring position; a pair ofexpander means movably carried by said mandrel and engageable with saidanchoring means for moving them from retracted to expanded positionsupon longitudinal movement of said expander means in opposite directionson said mandrel, one of said expander means including expandable sealmeans movable to expanded position when outward movement of theanchoring means has been arrested, said mandrel and said anchoring meanshaving co-engageable means preventing longitudinal movement of saidanchoring means during movement of said anchoring means to expandedposition by said expander means; and means initially releasably holdingsaid expander means against movement on said mandrel toward positionswherein said expander means move said anchoring means to expandedpositions, each of said expander means having means exposable topressure of fluid from within said mandrel for moving said expandermeans in opposite directions on said mandrel to move said anchoringmeans to expanded position.

13 g 6. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoringmeans carried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrelbetween an initial retracted position and an expanded anchoringposition; a pair of expander means movably carried by said mandrel andengageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retracted toexpanded positions upon longitudinal movement of said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding expandable seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means associated therewith has beenarrested, said mandrel and said anchoring means having co-engageablemeans preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means duringmovement of said anchoring means to expanded position by said expandermeans, each of said expander means having means exposable to pressure offluid from within said mandrel for moving said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel to move said anchoring means toexpanded position. '7. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; apair of anchoring means carried by said mandrel and movable laterally ofsaid mandrel between an initial retracted position and an expandedanchoring position; means releasably holding said anchoring means inretracted position 'on said mandrel; a pair of expander means movablycarried by said mandrel and engageable with said anchoring means formoving them from retracted to expanded positions upon longitudinalmovement of said expander means in opposite directions on said mandrel,one of said expander means including expandable seal means movable toexpanded position when outward movement of the anchoring meansassociated therewith has been arrested, "said mandrel and said anchoringmeans having co-engageable means preventing longitudinal movement ofsaid anchoring' means during movement of said anchoring means toexpanded position by said expander means; -rneans for moving saidexpander means relative to said anchoring means to move said anchoringmeans to expanded position; and means initially releasably holding saidexpander means against movement on said mandrel toward positions whereinsaid expander means move said i anchoring means to expanded position.

8. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoring meanscarried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrel between aninitial retracted posi- "tion and an expanded anchoring position; meansreleasably holding said anchoring means in retracted position on saidmandrel; a pair of expander means movably carried by'said mandrel andengageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retracted toexpanded positions upon longitudinal movement of said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding expandable seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means associated therewith has beenarrested, said mandrel and said anchoring means having coengageablemeans preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means duringmovement of said anchoring 3 means to expanded position by said expandermeans; and

means initially releasably holding said expander means against movementon said mandrel toward positions wherein said expander means move saidanchoring means to expanded position, each of said expander means havingmeans exposable to pressure of fluid from within said mandrel for movingsaid expander means in opposite directions on said mandrel to move saidanchoring means ably holding said anchoring means in retracted positionon said mandrel; a pair of expander means movably carried by saidmandrel and engageable with said anchoring means for moving them fromretracted to expanded positions upon longitudinal movement of saidexpander means in opposite directions on said mandrel, one of saidexpander means including seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means associated therewith has beenarrested, said mandrel and said anchoring means having co-engageablemeans preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means duringmovement of said anchoring means to expanded position by said expandermeans, each of said expander means having means exposable to pressure offluid from within said mandrel for moving said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel to move said anchoring means toexpanded position; and lock means for locking said expander meansagainst movement relative to one another toward positions permittingmovement of said anchoring means from expanded toward retractedpositions.

-10. A well packer including: a tubular mandrel; a pair of anchoringmeans carried by said mandrel and movable laterally of said mandrelbetween an initial retracted position and an expanded anchoringposition; a pair of ex pander means movably carried by said mandrel andengageable with said anchoring means for moving them from retracted toexpanded positions upon longitudinal movement of said expander means inopposite directions on said mandrel, one of said expander meansincluding expandable seal means movable to expanded position whenoutward movement of the anchoring means associated therewith has beenarrested, said mandrel and said anchoring means having co-engageablemeans preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means duringmovement of said anchoring means to expanded position by said expandermeans; means initially releasably holding said expander means againstmovement on said mandrel toward positions wherein said expander meansmove said anchoring means to expanded positions, each of said expandermeans having means exposable to pressure of fluid from within saidmandrel for moving said expander means in opposite directions on saidmandrel to move said anchoring means to expanded position; andlock-means for locking said expander means against movement relative toone another toward positions permitting movement of said anchoring meansfrom expanded toward retracted positions.

11. A well tool for securing an inner flow conductor in an outer flowconductor including: a tubular mandrel positionable between the innerand outer flow conductors and having means for releasably connecting theinner flow conductor to said mandrel; a pair of anchoring means carriedby said mandrel and movable outwardly from initial retracted positionson said mandrel wherein said anchoring means are out of engagement withsaid outer flow conductor to expanded positions wherein said anchoringmeans engage said outer flow conductor, one of said anchoring means whenin expanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in onelongitudinal direction relative to said outer flow conductor and theother of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in a direction opposite said one direction;means on said mandrel engageable with said anchoring means for movingsaid anchoring means to anchoring position; co-engageable means on saidanchoring means and said mandrel preventing longitudinal movement ofsaid anchoring means relative to said mandrel during movement of saidanchoring means to expanded position.

12. A well tool for securing an inner flow conductor in an outer flowconductor including: a tubular mandrel carried by said mandrel andmovable outwardly from initial retracted position on said mandrelwherein said anchoring means are out of engagement with said outer fioWconductor to expanded positions wherein said anchoring means engage saidouter flow conductor, one of said anchoring means when in expandedposition preventing movement of said mandrel in one longitudinaldirection relative to said outer flow conductor and the other of saidanchoring means when in expanded position preventing movement of saidmandrel in the opposite longitudinal direction relative to said outerflow conductor; co-engageable means on said anchoring means and saidmandrel preventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring meansrelative to said mandrel during movement of said anchoring means toexpanded position; and moving means on said mandrel for each of saidanchoring means movable from initial retracted positions relative toeach other to extended positions relative to each other, said movingmeans moving said anchoring means toward expanded position upon movementtoward said extended positions, said moving means having means exposableto fluid pressure from within said mandrel for moving said moving meanstoward said extended positions.

13. A well tool for securing an inner flow conductor in an outer flowconductor including: a tubular mandrel positionable between the innerand outer flow conductors and having means for releasably connecting theinner flow conductor to said mandrel; a pair of anchoring means carriedby said mandrel and movable outwardly from initial retracted position onsaid mandrel wherein said anchoring means are out of engagement withsaid outer flow conductor to expanded positions wherein said anchoringmeans engage said outer flow conductor, one of said anchoring means whenin expanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in onelongitudinal direction relative to said outer flow conductor and theother of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in the opposite longitudinal direction relativeto said outer flow conductor; co-engageable means on said anchoringmeans and said mandrel preventing longitudinal movement of saidanchoring means relative to said mandrel during movement of saidanchoring means to expanded position; individual moving means on saidmandrel for each of said anchoring means movable from initial retractedpositions relative to each other to extended positions relative to eachother, said moving means moving said anchoring means toward expandedposition upon movement toward said extended positions, said moving meanshaving means exposable to fluid pressure from within said mandrel formoving said moving means toward said extended position; and lock meansfor preventing movement of said moving means toward said retractedpositions relative to each other.

14, A well packer for sealing between inner and outer spaced telescopedflow conductors including: a tubular mandrel positionable between theinner and outer flow conductors and having means for releasablyconnecting the inner fiow conductor to said mandrel; upper and loweranchoring means carried by said mandrel and movable outwardly frominitial retracted positions on said mandrel wherein said anchoring meansare out of engagement with said outer flow conductor to expandedpositions wherein said anchoring means engage said outer flow conductor,one of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in one longitudinal direction relative to saidouter flow conductor and the other of said anchoring means when inexpanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in a longitudinaldirection opposite said one direction relative to said outer flowconductor; co-engageable means on said anchoring means and said mandrelpreventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means relative tosaid mandrel during movement of said anchoring means to expandedpositions; an annular piston longitudinally movably mounted on saidmandrel; a cylinder sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement on saidmandrel and providing an annular piston chamber outwardly of saidmandrel, said piston having one end portion disposed within saidchamher; means releasably securing said piston and said cylinder sleevein retracted positions relative to one another and to said mandrel;means movable by said piston and said cylinder sleeve engageable withsaid anchoring means for moving said anchor-ing means outwardly intoengagement with said outer flow conductor upon movement of said pistonand said cylinder sleeve to extended positions relative to one another;and seal means disposed on said mandrel between said piston and saidmeans for expanding said upper anchoring means and movable into expandedsealing engagement between said mandrel and the outer flow conductorwhen said upper anchoring means is in fully expanded anchoring position,said mandrel having port means communicating with said cylinder and theinterior of the mandrel whereby fluid under pressure may be admittedinto said chamber to move said piston and said cylinder sleeve toextended positions relative to each other.

15. A well packer for sealing between inner and outer spaced telescopedflow conductors including: a tubular mandrel positionable between theinner and outer flow conductors and having means for releasablyconnecting the inner flow conductor to said mandrel; upper and loweranchoring means carried by said mandrel and movable outwardly frominitial retracted positions on said mandrel wherein said anchoring meansare out of engagement with said outer flow conductor to expandedpositions wherein said anchoring means engage said outer flow conductor,one of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in one longitudinal direction relative to saidouter flow conductor and the other of said anchoring means when inexpanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in a longitudinaldirection opposite said one direction relative to said outer flowconductor; co-engageable means on said anchoring means and said mandrelpreventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means relative tosaid mandrel during movement of said anchoring means to expandedpositions; an annular piston longitudinally movably mounted on saidmandrel; a cylinder sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement on saidmandrel and providing an annular piston chamber outwardly of saidmandrel, said piston having one end portion disposed within saidchamber; means releasably securing said piston and said cylinder sleevein retracted positions relative to one another and to said mandrel;expander means mounted on said mandrel engageable with said upperanchoring means for moving said upper anchoring means to expandedposition upon upward movement of said expander means; seal means forsealing between said mandrel and the outer flow conductor disposed onsaid mandrel between said expander means and said piston, said cylindersleeve having expander means engageable with said lower anchoring meansfor moving said lower anchoring means to expanded position, saidexpander means moving said anchoring means to said expanded positionsupon movement of said piston and said cylinder sleeve in oppositelongitudinal directions relative to one another, said mandrel havingport means communicating with said cylinder and the interior of themandrel whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted into said chamberto move said piston and said cylinder sleeve to extended positionsrelative to each other.

16. A well packer for sealing between inner and outer spaced telescopedflow conductors including: a tubular mandrel positionable between theinner and outer flow conductors and having means for releasablyconnecting the inner flow conductor to said mandrel; upper and loweranchoring means carried by said mandrel and movable outwardly frominitial retracted positions on said mandrel wherein said anchoring meansare out of engagement with said outer flow conductor to expandedpositions wherein said anchoring means engage said outer flow conductor,one of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in one longitudinal direction relative to saidouter flow conductor and the other of said anchoring means when inexpanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in a longitudinaldirection opposite said one direction relative to said outer flowconductor; co-engageable means on said anchoring means and said mandrelpreventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means relative tosaid mandrel during movement of said anchoring means to expandedpositions; an annular piston longitudinally movably mounted on saidmandrel; a cylinder sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement on saidmandrel and providing an annular piston chamber outwardly of saidmandrel, said piston having one end portion disposed within saidchamber; means releasably sesuring said piston and said cylinder sleevein retracted positions relative to one another and to said mandrel;means movable by said piston and said cylinder sleeve engageable withsaid anchoring means for moving said anchoring means outwardly intoengagement with said outer flow conductor upon movement of said pistonand said cylinder sleeve to extended positions relative to one another;and seal means disposed on said mandrel between said piston and saidmeans for expanding said upper anchoring means and movable into expandedsealing engagement between said mandrel and the outer flow conductorwhen said upper anchoring means is in fully expanded anchoring position,said mandrel having port means communicating with said cylinder and theinterior of the mandrel whereby fluid under pressure may be admittedinto said chamber to move said piston and said cylinder sleeve toextended positions relative to each other; and lock means engageablewith said piston and said cylinder sleeve for preventing movement ofsaid piston and said cylinder sleeve from extended positions toretracted position relative to one another.

17. A well packer for sealing between inner and outer spaced telescopedflow conductors including: a tubular mandrel positionable between theinner and outer fiow conductors and having means for releasablyconnecting the inner flow conductor to said mandrel; upper and loweranchoring means carried by said mandrel and movable outwardly frominitial retracted positions on said mandrel wherein said anchoring meansare out of engagement with said outer flow conductor to expandedpositions wherein said anchoring means engage said outer flow conductor,one of said anchoring means when in expanded position preventingmovement of said mandrel in one longitudinal direction relative to saidouter fiow conductor and the other of said anchoring means when inexpanded position preventing movement of said mandrel in a longitudinaldirection opposite said one direction relative to said outer flowconductor; co-engageable means on said anchoring means and said mandrelpreventing longitudinal movement of said anchoring means relative tosaid mandrel during movement of said anchoring means to expandedpositions; an annular piston longitudinally movably mounted on saidmandrel; a cylinder sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement on saidmandrel and providing an annular piston chamber outwardly of saidmandrel, said piston having one end portion disposed within saidchamber; means releasably securing said piston and said cylinder sleevein retracted positions relative to one another and to said mandrel;expander means mounted on said mandrel engageable with said upperanchoring means for moving said upper anchoring means to expandedposition upon upward movement of said expander means; seal means forsealing between said mandrel and the outer flow conductor disposed onsaid mandrel between said expander means and said piston, said cylindersleeve having expander means engage able with said lower anchoring meansfor moving said lower anchoring means to expanded position, saidexpander means moving said anchoring means to said expanded positionsupon movement of said piston and said cylinder sleeve in oppositelongitudinal directions relative to one another, said mandrel havingport means communicating with said cylinder and the interior of themandrel whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted into said chamberto move said piston and said cylinder sleeve to extended positionsrelative to each other; and lock means engageable with said piston andsaid cylinder sleeve for preventing movement of said piston and saidcylinder sleeve from extended positions to retracted positions relativeto one another.

18. In combination with the well packer of claim 14: a seal nipplehaving means for connection in a string of tubing to constitute asection thereof; said seal nipple having means engageable by saidreleasable connecting means of said mandrel to hold said seal nipple inpredetermined longitudinal position relative to said mandrel; said sealnipple having port means; and seal means for sealing between saidmandrel and said seal nipple on opposite sides of said port means ofsaid seal nipple and said mandrel whereby fluid pressure from said sealnipple may be communicated through said port means to said chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,002,564 10/61Baker 1662l2 3,050,128 8/62 Brown 166120 3,062,291 11/62 Brown 166-134 XCHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

1. A WELL PACKER INCLUDING: A TUBULAR MANDREL; UPPER AND LOWER ANCHORINGMEANS CARRIED BY SAID MANDREL AND MOVABLE LATERALLY OF SAID MANDRELBETWEEN IN INITIAL RETRACTED POSITION AND AN EXPANDED ANCHORING POSITIONUPPER AND LOWER EXPANDER MEANS MOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID MANDREL ANDENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ANCHORING MEANS FOR MOVING THEM FROM RETRACTED TOEXPANDED POSITION UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID EXPANDER MEANS INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON SAID MANDREL, ONE OF SAID EXPANDER MEANSINCLUDING EXPANDABLE SEAL MEANS MOVABLE TO EXPANDED POSITION WHENOUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ANCHORING MEANS HAS BEEN ARRESTED, SAID MANDRELAND SAID ANCHORING MEANS HAVING CO-ENGAGEABLE MEANS PREVENTINGLONTIDUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ANCHORING MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAIDANCHORING MEANS TO EXPANDED POSITION BY SAID EXPANDER MEANS; AND MEANSFOR MOVING SAID EXPANDER MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID ANCHORING MEANS FORMOVING SAID ANCHORING MEANS TO EXPANDED POSITION.